Increase Your Faith

But you must defend those who are helpless and have no hope. Be fair and give justice to the poor and homeless. Proverbs 31:8-9 (CEV)

Pastor’s Commentary:

and [He] has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:6 NKJV)

This is the mandate on the life of every king: To defend the helpless and give justice to the vulnerable.

Listen carefully to the Lord in Psalm 82:

God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods. How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked. They do not know, nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are unstable. I said, “You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High. (Psalm 82:1-6 NKJV)

The Lord holds His mighty ones (gods) accountable for how they minister to the needs of the poor and fatherless. There is no entity on earth more powerful than the Church. As mighty ones, we must collectively and individually allow God to increase us, so that we can provide for those who are too weak to do so for themselves. Selah.

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There are two things, Lord, I want you to do for me before I die: Make me absolutely honest and don’t let me be too poor or too rich. Give me just what I need. Proverbs 30:7-8 (CEV)

Pastor’s Commentary:

“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJV)

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. (Proverbs 10:22 NKJV)

Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 5:19 NASB)

Many people look to Proverbs 30:7-8 as both the model and appropriate prayer in regards to financial wealth. They fail to realize that although these verses are in Scripture, they are merely the personal preference of one man. This prayer request is NOT inspired by God. We know this because it is inconsistent with the plans expressed by the Lord in Scriptural verses such as Deuteronomy 8:18.

The purpose of wealth, which is given by God, is for the establishment His covenant in the earth, specifically He said: I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing… and in you all the families (nations) of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3 NKJV)

Augur’s prayer says, “Give me just what I need.” On the other hand, God’s says, “I have empowered you to possess such a financial superabundance that you will have more than enough to meet your needs and the financial needs of others, thereby establishing my plan in the earth.” The choice is yours: Align yourself with Augur’s way of thinking and have just enough for you and your family or align yourself with the plan of God and feed nations.

Certainly, we should desire enough provision to meet our own needs. God has given us authority to eat from the wealth and riches He so graciously provides. Additionally, however, He demands that we provide for orphans, widows, the disabled, and the local church. To do all of these things, we must have more than just enough for ourselves.

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Too much pride brings disgrace; humility leads to honor. Proverbs 29:23 (CEV)

Pastor’s Commentary:

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor. (1 Peter 5:6 NLT)

Biblical humility has nothing to do with self-deprecation and low self-esteem. It has everything to do with complete, unquestioned obedience to God and His Word. As far as God is concerned, a person of few means who speaks softly and never boasts on himself, but lives in disobedience, is proud and stiff-necked. By contrast, the boisterous and flamboyant person who strictly obeys the edicts of the Lord is considered humble. This is quite the opposite of the way the world views things. Obedience is more important to God than any other quality known to men.

Biblical humility always leads to honor. The word honor in ancient Hebrew has the connotation of that which has great weight or heaviness, hence of great importance. The Scripture tells us that people who humbles themselves before God in utter obedience will have great weight and importance placed on them by none other than the King of kings Himself. God will take note of that man or woman and promote them. Biblical humility is the way to sustained and secured promotion.

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If you don’t confess your sins, you will be a failure. But God will be merciful if you confess your sins and give them up. Proverbs 28:13 (CEV)

Pastor’s Commentary:

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1 (NKJV)

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

The acknowledgement of sin and the scriptural disposition of it is really the difference between those who succeed and those who fail. Nothing else predicts the outcome in our lives quite like how we deal with sin.

This is an immutable fact: those who confess their sins and give them up receive the mercy and power of God. Those who make excuses for iniquity continually fall short of God’s best and flounder in life.

When you recognize sin in your life, remember that Jesus is your Advocate. Simply confess your sins and He is faithful and just to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

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A truly good friend will openly correct you. You can trust a friend who corrects you, but kisses from an enemy are nothing but lies. Proverbs 27:5-6 (CEV)

Pastor’s Commentary:

Through the years, I have known people who rejected the correction of those who loved them most, but embraced the encouragement of people who really did not care about them. The outcome was always tragic.

Sadly, we have become a nation addicted to encouragement and wary of correction. This mentality is has been orchestrated by the powers of darkness and the flesh. We all need correction in life. Healthy correction is good, and if you accept it, you will be wise. (Proverbs 15:31 CEV) The plan God has for our lives involves many course corrections, which He will often communicate through those closest to us.

The Spirit of Wisdom is clear on this point: A truly good friend will openly correct you. You can trust a friend who corrects you. Use Wisdom to discern between true correction and negative criticism.

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A curse you don’t deserve will take wings and fly away like a sparrow or a swallow. Proverbs 26:2 (CEV)

Pastor’s Commentary:

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When He was hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” (Galatians 3:13 NLT)

According to today’s Wisdom verse, any curse you don’t deserve must must take wings and fly away from you. Praise God! Because of Christ Jesus, there’s no such thing as a deserved curse for the believer. Jesus became the curse for us at Calvary so that no aspect of the curse, in any way, shape or form, could legally attach itself to the New Testament Disciple.

If any manifestation of the curse of the law (see Deuteronomy 15-68 NLT) attempts to attach itself to you, tell satan to take it back in the Name of Jesus Christ and resist it based on the Word of the Living God. You are blessed beyond every curse! Say “Amen” to that.

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Listening to good advice is worth much more than jewelry made of gold. Proverbs 25:12 (CEV)

Pastor’s Commentary:

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14 (NKJV)

Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established. Proverbs 15:22 (NKJV)

Develop a council of close, trustworthy, and godly counselors and surround yourself with them. Membership in this group should not be based upon how much you like or respect prospective members. The criteria for selection should be based solely upon the results each person gets in their own life.

Those who consistently receive God’s best in the area you want direction in should be more highly valued than those who don’t, even if you love them. For example, don’t get marital counseling from beloved family members with horrible track records in interpersonal relationships. Don’t take investment advice from someone who has no investments or a series of failed ones.

We all need advice at times, so let’s make the best of it. Follow the counsel of those who have, or are successfully and consistently doing what you want to do.

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Wisdom is like honey for your life— if you find it, your future is bright. Proverbs 24:14 (CEV)

Pastor’s Commentary:

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7 NKJV)

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. (Proverbs 3:13-16 NKJV)

Every good thing you’ve ever desired is found when you find Wisdom!

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Respect and serve the Lord! Your reward will be wealth, a long life, and honor. Proverbs 22:4 (CEV)

Pastor’s Commentary:

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:2-5 NKJV)

Don’t let satan and his children (the world) fool you. There are great benefits in serving the Great God Jehovah!

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If you won’t help the poor, don’t expect to be heard when you cry out for help. Proverbs 21:13 (CEV)

Pastor’s Commentary:

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:27 NASB)

The God of Heaven and earth has a heart that is easily touched by the suffering of the vulnerable on this planet. Time and time again, He commands those of us with the financial wherewithal to aid those who are poor and destitute. In other words, we are required to help those who cannot, in their own power, affect their economic or financial situation.

Faith begins where the will of God is known. Clearly it is the will of God to feed, clothe, and house the needy. When we obey, it is an act of absolute faith and the Lord honors the faithful. When we contribute to the welfare of the poor, God obligates Himself to taking care of us. He promises to answer our every cry for help.

Remember what the Scripture says: Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. (2 Corinthians 9:10, 11 NKJV)

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